AEROSPACE REVENUE CAN RECOVER IN 2022
This is provided Malaysia captures new work packages from OEMs, says Naico
MALAYSIA’S aerospace revenue is expected to recover to pre-pandemic levels of over RM16 billion as early as next year if the country can capture new work packages from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
“The recovery will be expedited if the industry can expand its cargo, business jet, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), as well as training facilities,” said National Aerospace Industry Coordinating Office (Naico) head Shamsul Kamar Abu Samah after the soft launch of the Selangor Aviation Show 2021 here yesterday.
Shamsul said work packages could be distributed by the OEMs to benefit not just tier-one and tier-two local suppliers, but also the whole ecosystem through product localisation.
“We would like to localise the production of OEM components as much as possible.”
He said Malaysia aimed to develop
bio-source materials for aircraft within five years.
He said Malaysia’s aerospace revenue had shrunk between 20 and 30 per cent last year, dragged down by the pandemic.
This halted most of the manufacturing and services of the aerospace sector, while some of the workforce were laid off.
“We are still assessing our data and hope the industry can recover
quickly this year. However, there are other businesses in general aviation that continue to grow, contributing to the increment of MRO activities and training.”
Shamsul said the International Trade and Industry Ministry and Naico aspired to bring new work packages to help tier-one and tier-two suppliers to contribute in developing new aircraft, such
as business jet or small aircraft.
Meanwhile, he said Malaysia could make use of its local talent and expertise to develop drones and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
“We want to develop an ecosystem not only consisting of drones but also UAVs, vertical or short take-off and landing and autonomous flying objects for the local and export markets.”